Additional Information on Weninger Blaufrankisch Durrau 2003

Region: Burgenland

Austria's wine industry has long been based around the country's excellent white wines, the grapes of which grow in abundance across the vineyards in the lowlands, and in the hilly regions around the nation's capital of Vienna. However, Austria also has a strong, if small, red wine industry, based on the superb Pinot Noir, Zwiegelt and Blaufrankisch grapes which flourish in the sun-drenched vineyards in Burgenland, in the very east of the country and close to the Hungarian border. Here, the massive Austrian lakes provide plenty of moisture for the grapes, and the fine and sunny climate help the fruit reach full ripeness each year, and allow the grapes to express much of their wonderful terroir. The characterful and flavorful red wines of Burgenland have been popular for centuries, and remain an intriguing aspect of Austrian wine to this day.

Country: Austria

Austria has a wonderfully long and illustrious history of wine production which stretches back over four thousand years, and reached its zenith under the Austria-Hungary dual monarchy in the late 19th century, when Vienna was one of the most important centers of culture and fine living in the world. Today, Austria's fertile soils and long, hot summers help the fifty thousand hectares of vineyards in the country achieve exceptionally high quality yields, which are used primarily for the production of the elegant dry white wines for which the country is renowned. The most important grape varietal is still GrÃ¼ner Veltliner, although many wineries are beginning to expand their repertoire and experiment with many imported grapes from France and further afield, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.